| Regimental number | 4227 |
| Place of birth | Albury, New South Wales |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Address | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Height | 5' 10.5" |
| Weight | 108 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Mr G H Leigh, Ferndale, Edward Street, Elsternwick, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil (previously rejected for AIF enlistment on account of teeth) |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 7th Battalion, 13th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/24/4 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A64 Demosthenes on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 59th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 17), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 168 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Abbassia, 19 February 1916; discharged to Overseas Base, 19 March 1916; total period of treatment for venereal disease (gonorrhoea): 29 days. Taken on strength, 59th Bn, Duntroon Plateau, 20 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Posted missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Handwritten note on Form B103: 'Presume Buried In No Man's Land approx 5J90 43 to 5K02.5.1 Sheet Hazebrouck 5A'. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal Statement, Red Cross File No 1580701, 2500 Lance Corporal D. HENRY, D Company, 59th Bn, 4 september 1916; 'He was shot through the body at Fleurbaix during the charge. I was wounded and lay in a small trench some distance out. I saw him lying near for about an hour. I thought he was dead, but he suddenly asked me for a drink. I pulled him into the trench with me and gave him a little water. I was afraid of giving him too much. I asked him how he was. He said he was wounded all over. I saw signs of only one wound. The blood was flowing freely from his left breast just above the heart. I wanted to try to take him back, but he was too bad. I had to leave him and crawled in at about 2 a.m. after telling him I would let the stretcher bearers know where he was. He lay about 300 yards out, over the second Creek. I do not know anything further about him. I fear he died.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, LEIGH Cecil Thorold
Red Cross file 1580701 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
